Dear George Fox University Community,

We are the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied alumni of George Fox University. We are called OneGeorgeFox and we have a message of hope.

To LGBTQ students and those experiencing same-sex attraction: You are not alone. Your feelings and desires are normal and natural. And God loves every part of you, including your sexual orientation and gender identity. Many of us, just like many of you, never heard these truths while growing up or while at George Fox. Many of us felt isolated, confused and compelled to fight our same-sex attractions. However, in our post-George Fox lives, we learned to face the realities and complexities of our true selves and to live happy lives and enjoy healthy relationships that are consistent with our sexual orientations. Life gets better. And there are people, including people of devout faith, who care about you, who want you to live a free, honest life, and who will walk with you on the sometimes-scary journey toward authenticity and wholeness.

To the broader George Fox community: There are many LGBTQ people that are part of this community. Treat us with respect. Treat us as fully human. Don’t make fun of us. Instead, stand up for us when you see us being bullied or harassed. We are human beings just like you and share similar hopes and dreams. We want to fall in love with someone. We want to have a family. We want to feel safe. To learn more about us, ask us questions. And listen.

To allies who have not voiced their support: Please come out in support of LGBTQ students! They need to know you are there. These students encounter prejudice, judgment, condemnation and bullying, and they need to know who will be safe to talk to and who will treat them with care and respect. Whether you are a student, a faculty member, an administrator or otherwise connected to the George Fox community, LGBTQ students need to know you exist.

To the George Fox administration, its Human Sexuality Committee, the Board of Trustees and the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends: Like heterosexual people, most of us have a very basic human need for the emotional intimacy and physical affection that comes from a committed relationship. Consequently, making acceptance of LGBTQ people within the George Fox community contingent on celibacy is not loving or responsible. We are not asking for permission to live “a promiscuous gay lifestyle.” We want a spouse. We want a family. We want romance! And we deserve a community that accepts us and will nurture our relationships and our families. We are building that community now through our alumni group, OneGeorgeFox. The students are also building that community through a student group called GFU Common Ground.

Some people will probably respond to this letter by telling us that we are free to pursue that community, but not at George Fox. That position denies reality. We are George Fox. We are part of this community. We have great friendships here. We spent years studying and learning about ourselves while at George Fox. We also carry the name of our alma mater with us on our resumes, professional bios and publications. Moreover, a place like George Fox should be open to reexamining long-held beliefs, particularly when there are significant numbers within that community who are harmed by existing policies and who hold different beliefs. The George Fox community has always contained LGBTQ students. Our hope is that we can be part of creating change within our community, so that LGBTQ students can come to George Fox to study, to worship and to serve, in a safe and affirming environment.

To students, alumni and others who would like to talk more about this or who need support, please reach out to us. We are a diverse, open and vibrant community that is excited to meet you. If you would like to connect with one of us, email contact@onegeorgefox.org or visit www.onegeorgefox.org for some helpful resources.